Seram Honeyeater

Lichmera monticola

A drab brown sparrow-sized songbird with a downcurved bill. Note the pale base to the bill, the thin pale line between bill and eye, the pale skin behind the eye, and the prominent dark streaks on the breast. Inhabits montane forest and higher heathland, where it sometimes joins mixed-species flocks. Larger than Seram Myzomela, and further differentiated by pale base to bill, pale facial line, bare facial skin, and bold streaking below. Gives a strident, melodious “twit-twoo” song and harsh “shhurr” and liquid “wip” notes.

Taxonomy

Scientific name
Lichmera monticola
Authority
(Stresemann, 1912)
Order
Passeriformes
Family
Meliphagidae
Genus
Lichmera

Range and habitat

Migration
Resident species

Conservation

Population trend
stable

Photos

Distribution

Other Birds

Coconut Lorikeet

Coconut Lorikeet

Trichoglossus haematodus

Very long-tailed lorikeet, mostly green but bright red chest and underwing is striking in flight. Dark hood with thick yellow border is striking. Generally in wooded lowlands but recorded to more than 2000m in some locations. Unique within its range. Similar Rainbow Lorikeet has a purple belly patch and more vibrant purple face, but the two do not overlap. Gives a series of chattering notes while perched, in flight sharp screeching squeals betray its presence.

Southern Rockhopper Penguin

Southern Rockhopper Penguin

Eudyptes chrysocome

The smallest of the crested penguins. Note the thin yellow eyebrows that, once past the eyes, flare out toward the rear of the head. The species consists of two subspecies, the Eastern and Western Rockhopper Penguins. The Western Rockhopper Penguin breeds on offshore islands off southern Chile and Argentina and on the Falkland Islands, while the Eastern Rockhopper Penguin breeds on various subantarctic islands around New Zealand and the southern Indian Ocean. The Eastern has even eyebrows with pink skin at the base of the bill; the Western has black skin at the base of the bill, with an uneven eyebrow shape. Vagrants occasionally reach the Snares Islands. Distinguished from Snares Penguin by thinner eyebrow and smaller bill, and from Moseley’s Rockhopper Penguin by shorter, less flowing crest.

White-necked Myna

White-necked Myna

Streptocitta albicollis

An unmistakable long-tailed, black-and-white myna. Black except for broad white breast band and collar. South Sulawesi form has a pale-tipped bill; in north, bill is entirely dark. Juveniles less glossy and shorter-tailed than adults. Found in pairs or small groups in canopy of forest and forest edge in lowlands and foothills. Often perches out on prominent dead branches. Restricted to Sulawesi, satellite islands, and Togian Islands. Gives a variety of odd calls, including high-pitched piercing “keer,” soft low-pitched “kyop,” and other whistles and metallic notes.

Start Your Bird Watching Journey

Identify a bird outdoors and keep the field guide close for your next observation.